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Guevara-Ramírez P, Paz-Cruz E, Cadena-Ullauri S, Ruiz-Pozo VA, Tamayo-Trujillo R, Felix ML, Simancas-Racines D, Zambrano AK. Molecular pathways and nutrigenomic review of insulin resistance development in gestational diabetes mellitus. Front Nutr 2023; 10:1228703. [PMID: 37799768 PMCID: PMC10548225 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1228703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Gestational diabetes mellitus is a condition marked by raised blood sugar levels and insulin resistance that usually occurs during the second or third trimester of pregnancy. According to the World Health Organization, hyperglycemia affects 16.9% of pregnancies worldwide. Dietary changes are the primarily alternative treatment for gestational diabetes mellitus. This paper aims to perform an exhaustive overview of the interaction between diet, gene expression, and the metabolic pathways related to insulin resistance. The intake of foods rich in carbohydrates can influence the gene expression of glycolysis, as well as foods rich in fat, can disrupt the beta-oxidation and ketogenesis pathways. Furthermore, vitamins and minerals are related to inflammatory processes regulated by the TLR4/NF-κB and one carbon metabolic pathways. We indicate that diet regulated gene expression of PPARα, NOS, CREB3L3, IRS, and CPT I, altering cellular physiological mechanisms and thus increasing or decreasing the risk of gestational diabetes. The alteration of gene expression can cause inflammation, inhibition of fatty acid transport, or on the contrary help in the modulation of ketogenesis, improve insulin sensitivity, attenuate the effects of glucotoxicity, and others. Therefore, it is critical to comprehend the metabolic changes of pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus, to determine nutrients that help in the prevention and treatment of insulin resistance and its long-term consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Guevara-Ramírez
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud Eugenio Espejo, Centro de Investigación Genética y Genómica, Universidad UTE, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Elius Paz-Cruz
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud Eugenio Espejo, Centro de Investigación Genética y Genómica, Universidad UTE, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Santiago Cadena-Ullauri
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud Eugenio Espejo, Centro de Investigación Genética y Genómica, Universidad UTE, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Viviana A. Ruiz-Pozo
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud Eugenio Espejo, Centro de Investigación Genética y Genómica, Universidad UTE, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Rafael Tamayo-Trujillo
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud Eugenio Espejo, Centro de Investigación Genética y Genómica, Universidad UTE, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Maria L. Felix
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud Eugenio Espejo, Universidad UTE, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Daniel Simancas-Racines
- Centro de Investigación de Salud Pública y Epidemiología Clínica (CISPEC), Universidad UTE, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Ana Karina Zambrano
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud Eugenio Espejo, Centro de Investigación Genética y Genómica, Universidad UTE, Quito, Ecuador
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Cochrane KM, Elango R, Devlin AM, Hutcheon JA, Karakochuk CD. Human milk unmetabolized folic acid is increased following supplementation with synthetic folic acid as compared to (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid. Sci Rep 2023; 13:11298. [PMID: 37438496 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-38224-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Folic acid supplementation is recommended perinatally, but may increase unmetabolized folic acid (UMFA) in human milk; this is concerning as it is an inactive form which may be less bioavailable for the infant. "Natural" (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid [(6S)-5-MTHF] is available as an alternative to folic acid, and may prevent the accumulation of UMFA in human milk. Pregnant women (n = 60) were enrolled at 8-21 weeks of gestation and randomized to 0.6 mg/day folic acid or (6S)-5-MTHF. At ~ 1-week postpartum, participants provided a human milk specimen. Total human milk folate (nmol/L) and concentrations of UMFA (nmol/L) were quantified via LC-MS/MS. Differences between groups were evaluated using multivariable quantile/linear regression, adjusting for dietary folate, weeks supplementing, and milk collection methods. No significant difference in total milk folate was found; however, the median milk UMFA concentration was 11 nmol/L higher in those receiving folic acid versus (6S)-5-MTHF (95% CI = 6.4-17 nmol/L), with UMFA representing 28% and 2% of total milk folate. In conclusion, the form of supplemental folate had markedly differential effects on the human milk folate profile, with folic acid increasing the mean proportion of milk UMFA by ~ 14-fold. Investigation of whether increased UMFA impacts folate-related metabolism and infant health outcomes is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey M Cochrane
- Food, Nutrition and Health, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, The University of British Columbia, 2205 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Healthy Starts, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Rajavel Elango
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Healthy Starts, Vancouver, Canada
- Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Population and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Angela M Devlin
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Healthy Starts, Vancouver, Canada
- Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Jennifer A Hutcheon
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Healthy Starts, Vancouver, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Crystal D Karakochuk
- Food, Nutrition and Health, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, The University of British Columbia, 2205 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada.
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Healthy Starts, Vancouver, Canada.
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3
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Golestanfar A, Niasari-Naslaji A, Jafarpour F, Rouhollahi S, Rezaei N, Menezo Y, Dattilo M, Nasr-Esfahani MH. Metabolic enhancement of the one carbon metabolism (OCM) in bovine oocytes IVM increases the blastocyst rate: evidences for a OCM checkpoint. Sci Rep 2022; 12:20629. [PMID: 36450805 PMCID: PMC9712338 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-25083-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The one carbon metabolism (OCM) has a primary role in the process of oocyte maturation. In this study bovine oocytes were cultured for 24 h, up to MII stage, with standard medium supplemented or not with 8 metabolic enhancers of the OCM and the MII and blastocyst rate were compared. Additional analyses were performed on matured oocytes, cumulus cells, zygotes and blastocysts. The OCM supplementation increased the blastocyst rate derived from in vitro fertilization. The mitochondrial mass and DNMT3a protein expression were increased whereas DNA fragmentation decreased in matured oocytes. DNA methylation in female pronucleus of zygotes was increased. The supplementation did not directly affect the redox balance as ROS and GSH in matured oocytes and homocysteine in the spent medium were unchanged. The supplementation of the oocytes with metabolic enhancers of the OCM may increase the yield from the culture, likely due to improved DNA methylation and epigenetic programming. The lack of effects on MII rate with huge differences appearing at the blastocyst stage suggest the existence of a OCM metabolic check point that hampers oocytes progression to blastocyst post-fertilization, if they were not properly primed at the time of maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arefeh Golestanfar
- grid.46072.370000 0004 0612 7950Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amir Niasari-Naslaji
- grid.46072.370000 0004 0612 7950Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Farnoosh Jafarpour
- grid.417689.5Department of Animal Biotechnology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Shiva Rouhollahi
- grid.417689.5Department of Animal Biotechnology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Naeimeh Rezaei
- grid.417689.5Department of Animal Biotechnology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Yves Menezo
- Laboratoire Clément, 17 Avenue d’Eylau, 75016 Paris, France
| | | | - Mohammad Hossein Nasr-Esfahani
- grid.417689.5Department of Animal Biotechnology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran
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Xu X, Johnson Z, Wang A, Padget RL, Smyth JW, Xie H. Folate regulates RNA m 5C modification and translation in neural stem cells. BMC Biol 2022; 20:261. [PMID: 36424632 PMCID: PMC9686110 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-022-01467-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Folate is an essential B-group vitamin and a key methyl donor with important biological functions including DNA methylation regulation. Normal neurodevelopment and physiology are sensitive to the cellular folate levels. Either deficiency or excess of folate may lead to neurological disorders. Recently, folate has been linked to tRNA cytosine-5 methylation (m5C) and translation in mammalian mitochondria. However, the influence of folate intake on neuronal mRNA m5C modification and translation remains largely unknown. Here, we provide transcriptome-wide landscapes of m5C modification in poly(A)-enriched RNAs together with mRNA transcription and translation profiles for mouse neural stem cells (NSCs) cultured in three different concentrations of folate. RESULTS NSCs cultured in three different concentrations of folate showed distinct mRNA methylation profiles. Despite uncovering only a few differentially expressed genes, hundreds of differentially translated genes were identified in NSCs with folate deficiency or supplementation. The differentially translated genes induced by low folate are associated with cytoplasmic translation and mitochondrial function, while the differentially translated genes induced by high folate are associated with increased neural stem cell proliferation. Interestingly, compared to total mRNAs, polysome mRNAs contained high levels of m5C. Furthermore, an integrative analysis indicated a transcript-specific relationship between RNA m5C methylation and mRNA translation efficiency. CONCLUSIONS Altogether, our study reports a transcriptome-wide influence of folate on mRNA m5C methylation and translation in NSCs and reveals a potential link between mRNA m5C methylation and mRNA translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiguang Xu
- grid.438526.e0000 0001 0694 4940Epigenomics and Computational Biology Lab, Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061 USA ,grid.438526.e0000 0001 0694 4940Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061 USA ,grid.470073.70000 0001 2178 7701Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061 USA
| | - Zachary Johnson
- grid.438526.e0000 0001 0694 4940Epigenomics and Computational Biology Lab, Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061 USA ,grid.438526.e0000 0001 0694 4940Genetics, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Program, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061 USA
| | - Amanda Wang
- grid.438526.e0000 0001 0694 4940Epigenomics and Computational Biology Lab, Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061 USA
| | - Rachel L. Padget
- grid.438526.e0000 0001 0694 4940Graduate Program in Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061 USA ,grid.438526.e0000 0001 0694 4940Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, Virginia Tech, Roanoke, VA 24016 USA
| | - James W. Smyth
- grid.438526.e0000 0001 0694 4940Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061 USA ,grid.438526.e0000 0001 0694 4940Graduate Program in Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061 USA ,grid.438526.e0000 0001 0694 4940Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, Virginia Tech, Roanoke, VA 24016 USA ,grid.438526.e0000 0001 0694 4940Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, VA 24016 USA
| | - Hehuang Xie
- grid.438526.e0000 0001 0694 4940Epigenomics and Computational Biology Lab, Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061 USA ,grid.438526.e0000 0001 0694 4940Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061 USA ,grid.470073.70000 0001 2178 7701Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061 USA ,grid.438526.e0000 0001 0694 4940Genetics, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Program, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061 USA ,grid.438526.e0000 0001 0694 4940Graduate Program in Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061 USA
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5
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Cheng L, Su Y, Zhi K, Xie Y, Zhang C, Meng X. Conditional deletion of MAD2B in forebrain neurons enhances hippocampus-dependent learning and memory in mice. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:956029. [PMID: 36212696 PMCID: PMC9538151 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.956029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitotic arrest deficient 2-like protein 2 (MAD2B) is not only a DNA damage repair agent but also a cell cycle regulator that is widely expressed in the hippocampus and the cerebral cortex. However, the functions of MAD2B in hippocampal and cerebral cortical neurons are poorly understood. In this study, we crossed MAD2Bflox/flox and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II alpha (Camk2a)-Cre mice to conditionally knock out MAD2B in the forebrain pyramidal neurons by the Cre/loxP recombinase system. First, RNA sequencing suggested that the differentially expressed genes in the hippocampus and the cerebral cortex between the WT and the MAD2B cKO mice were related to learning and memory. Then, the results of behavioral tests, including the Morris water maze test, the novel object recognition test, and the contextual fear conditioning experiment, suggested that the learning and memory abilities of the MAD2B cKO mice had improved. Moreover, conditional knockout of MAD2B increased the number of neurons without affecting the number of glial cells in the hippocampal CA1 and the cerebral cortex. At the same time, the number of doublecortin-positive (DCX+) cells was increased in the dentate gyrus (DG) of the MAD2B cKO mice. In addition, as shown by Golgi staining, the MAD2B cKO mice had more mushroom-like and long-like spines than the WT mice. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that spine synapses increased and shaft synapses decreased in the CA1 of the MAD2B cKO mice. Taken together, our findings indicated that MAD2B plays an essential role in regulating learning and memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Cheng
- Department of Neurobiology, Institute of Brain Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yanfang Su
- Department of Neurobiology, Institute of Brain Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Kaining Zhi
- Department of Neurobiology, Institute of Brain Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yaru Xie
- Department of Neurobiology, Institute of Brain Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Department of Nephrology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Chun Zhang
- Department of Nephrology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Chun Zhang
| | - Xianfang Meng
- Department of Neurobiology, Institute of Brain Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Xianfang Meng
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6
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Alnabbat KI, Fardous AM, Shahab A, James AA, Bahry MR, Heydari AR. High Dietary Folic Acid Intake Is Associated with Genomic Instability in Peripheral Lymphocytes of Healthy Adults. Nutrients 2022; 14:3944. [PMID: 36235597 PMCID: PMC9571807 DOI: 10.3390/nu14193944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Mandatory fortification of food with synthetic folic acid (FA) was instituted in 1998 to reduce the incidence of neural tube defects. Adequate folate status is correlated with numerous health benefits. However, elevated consumption of FA is controversially associated with deleterious effects on health. We previously reported that excess FA mimicked folate depletion in a lymphoblastoid cell line. To explore the impact of FA intake from fortified food, we conducted an observational human study on 33 healthy participants aged 18-40 not taking any supplements. Food intake, anthropomorphic measurements, and blood samples were collected and analyzed. Our results show that individuals belonging to the highest tertile of folic acid intake, as well as ones with the highest folic acid to total folate intake ratio (FAR), display a significantly greater incidence of lymphocyte genomic damage. A decrease in global DNA methylation is observed in the highest tertile of FAR compared to the lowest (p = 0.055). A downward trend in the overall gene expression of select DNA repair and one carbon cycle genes (MGMT, MLH1, UNG, MTHFR, MTR) is noted with increased folate status and FA intake. These results provide supporting evidence that high consumption of FA from fortified foods can precipitate genomic instability in peripheral lymphocyte in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khadijah I Alnabbat
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
- Department of Food and Nutrition Sciences, King Faisal University, Al Hufūf 31982, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ali M Fardous
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Aiman Shahab
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Andrew A James
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Manhel R Bahry
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Ahmad R Heydari
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
- Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
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High Folate, Perturbed One-Carbon Metabolism and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14193930. [PMID: 36235580 PMCID: PMC9573299 DOI: 10.3390/nu14193930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Folate is a dietary micronutrient essential to one-carbon metabolism. The World Health Organisation recommends folic acid (FA) supplementation pre-conception and in early pregnancy to reduce the risk of fetal neural tube defects (NTDs). Subsequently, many countries (~92) have mandatory FA fortification policies, as well as recommendations for periconceptional FA supplementation. Mandatory fortification initiatives have been largely successful in reducing the incidence of NTDs. However, humans have limited capacity to incorporate FA into the one-carbon metabolic pathway, resulting in the increasingly ubiquitous presence of circulating unmetabolised folic acid (uFA). Excess FA intake has emerged as a risk factor in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Several other one-carbon metabolism components (vitamin B12, homocysteine and choline-derived betaine) are also closely entwined with GDM risk, suggesting a role for one-carbon metabolism in GDM pathogenesis. There is growing evidence from in vitro and animal studies suggesting a role for excess FA in dysregulation of one-carbon metabolism. Specifically, high levels of FA reduce methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) activity, dysregulate the balance of thymidylate synthase (TS) and methionine synthase (MTR) activity, and elevate homocysteine. High homocysteine is associated with increased oxidative stress and trophoblast apoptosis and reduced human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) secretion and pancreatic β-cell function. While the relationship between high FA, perturbed one-carbon metabolism and GDM pathogenesis is not yet fully understood, here we summarise the current state of knowledge. Given rising rates of GDM, now estimated to be 14% globally, and widespread FA food fortification, further research is urgently needed to elucidate the mechanisms which underpin GDM pathogenesis.
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8
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The Impact of Maternal Folates on Brain Development and Function after Birth. Metabolites 2022; 12:metabo12090876. [PMID: 36144280 PMCID: PMC9503684 DOI: 10.3390/metabo12090876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 08/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Folate is vital for biological processes within the body, including DNA synthesis, DNA repair, and methylation reactions that metabolize homocysteine. The role of folate is particularly important in pregnancy, where there is rapid cellular and tissue growth. Maternal folate deficiencies secondary to inadequate dietary supplementation are known to produce defects in the neural tube and spinal cord, yet the exact mechanism of folate in neurodevelopment is unknown. The consequences of maternal folate deficiency on offspring brain development and function beyond gestation are not well defined. The objective of this review is to investigate the role of folate deficiency in offspring neurodevelopment, and the complications that arise post-gestation. This was accomplished through a comprehensive review of the data presented in both clinical and preclinical studies. Evidence supports that folate deficiency is associated with altered offspring neurodevelopment, including smaller total brain volume, altered cortical thickness and cerebral white matter, altered neurogenesis, and neuronal apoptosis. Some of these changes have been associated with altered brain function in offspring with memory, motor function, language skills, and psychological issues. This review of literature also presents potential mechanisms of folate deficiency in neurodevelopment with altered metabolism, neuroinflammation, epigenetic modification through DNA methylation, and a genetic deficiency in one-carbon metabolism.
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9
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Moderate Folic Acid Supplementation in Pregnant Mice Results in Altered Sex-Specific Gene Expression in Brain of Young Mice and Embryos. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14051051. [PMID: 35268026 PMCID: PMC8912750 DOI: 10.3390/nu14051051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Food fortification and increased vitamin intake have led to higher folic acid (FA) consumption by many pregnant women. We showed that FA-supplemented diet in pregnant mice (fivefold higher FA than the recommended level (5xFASD)) led to hyperactivity-like behavior and memory impairment in pups. Disturbed choline/methyl metabolism and altered placental gene expression were identified. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of 5xFASD on the brain at two developmental stages, postnatal day (P) 30 and embryonic day (E) 17.5. Female C57BL/6 mice were fed a control diet or 5xFASD for 1 month before mating. Diets were maintained throughout the pregnancy and lactation until P30 or during pregnancy until E17.5. The 5xFASD led to sex-specific transcription changes in P30 cerebral cortex and E17.5 cerebrum, with microarrays showing a total of 1003 and 623 changes, respectively. Enhanced mRNA degradation was observed in E17.5 cerebrum. Expression changes of genes involved in neurotransmission, neuronal growth and development, and angiogenesis were verified by qRT-PCR; 12 and 15 genes were verified at P30 and E17.5, respectively. Hippocampal collagen staining suggested decreased vessel density in FASD male embryos. This study provides insight into the mechanisms of neurobehavioral alterations and highlights potential deleterious consequences of moderate folate oversupplementation during pregnancy.
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10
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Silveira JS, Ramires Júnior OV, Schmitz F, Ferreira FS, Rodrigues FC, Silva RC, Savio LEB, Wyse ATS. Folic acid supplementation during pregnancy alters behavior in male rat offspring: nitrative stress and neuroinflammatory implications. Mol Neurobiol 2022; 59:2150-2170. [PMID: 35044624 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-022-02724-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Pregnancy diet can impact offspring's neurodevelopment, metabolism, redox homeostasis, and inflammatory status. In pregnancy, folate demand is increased due to the requirement for one-carbon transfer reactions. The present study was proposed to investigate the effect of folic acid supplementation throughout pregnancy on a battery of behavior tests (olfactory preference, motor activity, exploratory capacity, habituation, memory, anxiety- and depression-like behavior). Redox homeostasis and neuroinflammatory status in cerebral cortex were also investigated. After pregnancy confirmation, the pregnant rats were randomly divided into two groups, according to the diet: group 1, (control) standard diet (2 mg/kg diet of folic acid) and group 2, supplemented diet with 4 mg/kg diet of folic acid. Throughout the gestational period, the pregnant rats received experimental diets. Results show that the supplemented diet with 4 mg/kg diet of folic acid throughout pregnancy impaired memory and motricity of the offspring when compared with control (standard diet). It was also observed an increase in anxiety- and depression-like behavior in this group. Nitrite levels increased in cerebral cortex of the offspring, when compared to control group. In contrast, iNOS expression and immunocontent were not altered. Moreover, we identify an increase in TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, and MCP-1 gene expression in the cerebral cortex. In conclusion, our study showed that the supplemented diet with 4 mg/kg diet of folic acid throughout pregnancy may cause behavioral and biochemical changes in the male offspringGraphical abstract After pregnancy confirmation, the pregnant rats were randomly divided into two groups, according to the diet: group 1, (control) standard diet (2 mg/kg diet of folic acid) and group 2, supplemented diet with 4 mg/kg diet of folic acid. Throughout the gestational period, the pregnant rats received experimental diets. Results show that folic acid supplementation did not impair the mother-pup relationship. We showed that supplemented diet with 4 mg/kg diet of folic acid during pregnancy impairs memory and motricity of the offspring when compared with standard diet. It was also observed an increase in anxiety- and depression-like behavior in this group. Nitrative stress and neuroinflammation parameters were increased in the cerebral cortex of the offspring. ROS, reactive oxygen species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josiane Silva Silveira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.,Laboratório de Neuroproteção E Doenças Metabólicas (Wyse's Lab), Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600-Anexo, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90035003, Brazil
| | - Osmar Vieira Ramires Júnior
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.,Laboratório de Neuroproteção E Doenças Metabólicas (Wyse's Lab), Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600-Anexo, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90035003, Brazil
| | - Felipe Schmitz
- Laboratório de Neuroproteção E Doenças Metabólicas (Wyse's Lab), Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600-Anexo, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90035003, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Silva Ferreira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.,Laboratório de Neuroproteção E Doenças Metabólicas (Wyse's Lab), Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600-Anexo, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90035003, Brazil
| | - Fabiana Cristina Rodrigues
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Bloco G. Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373. Cidade Universitária, Ilha Do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Robson Coutinho Silva
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Bloco G. Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373. Cidade Universitária, Ilha Do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Luiz Eduardo Baggio Savio
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Bloco G. Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373. Cidade Universitária, Ilha Do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Angela T S Wyse
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. .,Laboratório de Neuroproteção E Doenças Metabólicas (Wyse's Lab), Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600-Anexo, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90035003, Brazil.
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11
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Korsmo HW, Jiang X. One carbon metabolism and early development: a diet-dependent destiny. Trends Endocrinol Metab 2021; 32:579-593. [PMID: 34210607 PMCID: PMC8282711 DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2021.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
One carbon metabolism (OCM) is critical for early development, as it provides one carbon (1C) units for the biosynthesis of DNA, proteins, and lipids and epigenetic modification of the genome. Epigenetic marks established early in life can be maintained and exert lasting impacts on gene expression and functions later in life. Animal and human studies have increasingly demonstrated that prenatal 1C nutrient deficiencies impair fetal growth, neurodevelopment, and cardiometabolic parameters in childhood, while sufficient maternal 1C nutrient intake is protective against these detrimental outcomes. However, recent studies also highlight the potential risk of maternal 1C nutrient excess or imbalance in disrupting early development. Further studies are needed to delineate the dose-response relationship among prenatal 1C nutrient exposure, epigenetic modifications, and developmental outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hunter W Korsmo
- PhD Program in Biochemistry, The Graduate Center CUNY (City University of New York), New York, NY 10016, USA; Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences, Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY 11210, USA
| | - Xinyin Jiang
- PhD Program in Biochemistry, The Graduate Center CUNY (City University of New York), New York, NY 10016, USA; Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences, Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY 11210, USA.
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12
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Arutjunyan AV, Kerkeshko GO, Milyutina YP, Shcherbitskaia AD, Zalozniaia IV. Prenatal Stress in Maternal Hyperhomocysteinemia: Impairments in the Fetal Nervous System Development and Placental Function. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2021; 86:716-728. [PMID: 34225594 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297921060092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The article presents current views on maternal hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) as an important factor causing prenatal stress and impaired nervous system development in fetuses and newborns in early ontogenesis, as well as complications in adulthood. Experimental data demonstrate that prenatal HHcy (PHHcy) affects the morphological maturation of the brain and activity of its neurotransmitter systems. Cognitive deficit observed in the offspring subjected to PHHcy in experimental studies can presumably cause the predisposition to various neurodegenerative diseases, as the role of maternal HHcy in the pathogenesis such diseases has been proven in clinical studies. The review also discusses molecular mechanisms of the HHcy neurotoxic action on the nervous system development in the prenatal and early postnatal periods, which include oxidative stress, apoptosis activation, changes in the DNA methylation patterns and microRNA levels, altered expression and processing of neurotrophins, and neuroinflammation induced by an increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Special attention is given to the maternal HHcy impact on the placenta function and its possible contribution to the brain function impairments in the offspring. Published data suggest that some effects of PHHcy on the developing fetal brain can be due to the disturbances in the transport functions of the placenta resulting in an insufficient supply of nutrients necessary for the proper formation and functioning of brain structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander V Arutjunyan
- Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductology named after D.O.Ott, St. Petersburg, 199034, Russia. .,St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology, St. Petersburg, 197110, Russia
| | - Gleb O Kerkeshko
- St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology, St. Petersburg, 197110, Russia
| | - Yuliya P Milyutina
- Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductology named after D.O.Ott, St. Petersburg, 199034, Russia
| | - Anastasiia D Shcherbitskaia
- Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductology named after D.O.Ott, St. Petersburg, 199034, Russia.,Sechenov Institute of Evolutionary Physiology and Biochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, 104223, Russia
| | - Irina V Zalozniaia
- Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductology named after D.O.Ott, St. Petersburg, 199034, Russia
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13
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Prenatal Folic Acid Supplements and Offspring’s Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Meta-analysis and Meta-regression. J Autism Dev Disord 2021; 52:522-539. [PMID: 33743119 PMCID: PMC8813730 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-021-04951-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
We systematically reviewed the evidence on the association between maternal folic acid supplementation and the risk of offspring’s autism spectrum disorders (ASD). A total of 10 studies with 23 sub-studies (9795 ASD cases) were included. Folic acid supplementation during early pregnancy was associated with a lower risk of offspring’s ASD [OR 0.57, 95% CI 0.41–0.78]. The consumption of a daily amount of at least 400 μg folic acid from dietary sources and supplements, was associated with a reduced risk of offspring ASD [OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.36–0.83]. Critical effective maternal folic acid supplementation strategies, such as intake timing and intake dosage, may aid the reduction in the risk of offspring ASD. This meta-analysis provided new insights for the prevention of offspring’s ASD.
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14
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Penailillo RS, Eckert JJ, Burton MA, Burdge GC, Fleming TP, Lillycrop KA. High maternal folic acid intake around conception alters mouse blastocyst lineage allocation and expression of key developmental regulatory genes. Mol Reprod Dev 2021; 88:261-273. [PMID: 33719134 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Folate, a cofactor for the supply of one-carbon groups, is required by epigenetic processes to regulate cell lineage determination during development. The intake of folic acid (FA), the synthetic form of folate, has increased significantly over the past decade, but the effects of high periconceptional FA intake on cell lineage determination in the early embryo remains unknown. Here, we investigated the effect of maternal high FA (HFA) intake on blastocyst development and expression of key regulatory genes. C57BL/6 adult female mice were fed either Control diet (1 mg FA) for 4 weeks before conception and during the preimplantation period (Con-Con); Control diet for 4 weeks preconception, followed by HFA (5 mg FA) diet during preimplantation (Con-HFA); or HFA diet for 4 weeks preconception and during preimplantation (HFA-HFA). At E3.5, blastocyst cell number, protein, and mRNA expression were measured. In HFA-HFA blastocysts, trophectoderm cell numbers and expression of CDX2, Oct-4, and Nanog were reduced compared with Con-Con blastocysts; Con-HFA blastocysts showed lower CDX2 and Oct-4 expression than Con-Con blastocysts. These findings suggest periconceptional HFA intake induces changes in key regulators of embryo morphogenesis with potential implications for subsequent development.
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Affiliation(s)
- R S Penailillo
- Centre for Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - J J Eckert
- School of Human Health and Development, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - M A Burton
- Centre for Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - G C Burdge
- School of Human Health and Development, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - T P Fleming
- Centre for Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - K A Lillycrop
- Centre for Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
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15
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Hammoud R, Pannia E, Kubant R, Wasek B, Bottiglieri T, Malysheva OV, Caudill MA, Anderson GH. Choline and Folic Acid in Diets Consumed during Pregnancy Interact to Program Food Intake and Metabolic Regulation of Male Wistar Rat Offspring. J Nutr 2021; 151:857-865. [PMID: 33561219 PMCID: PMC8030718 DOI: 10.1093/jn/nxaa419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Revised: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND North American women consume high folic acid (FA), but most are not meeting the adequate intakes for choline. High-FA gestational diets induce an obesogenic phenotype in rat offspring. It is unclear if imbalances between FA and other methyl-nutrients (i.e., choline) account for these effects. OBJECTIVE This study investigated the interaction of choline and FA in gestational diets on food intake, body weight, one-carbon metabolism, and hypothalamic gene expression in male Wistar rat offspring. METHODS Pregnant Wistar rats were fed an AIN-93G diet with recommended choline and FA [RCRF; 1-fold, control] or high (5-fold) FA with choline at 0.5-fold [low choline and high folic acid (LCHF)], 1-fold [recommended choline and high folic acid (RCHF)], or 2.5-fold [high choline and high folic acid (HCHF)]. Male offspring were weaned to an RCRF diet for 20 wk. Food intake, weight gain, plasma energy-regulatory hormones, brain and plasma one-carbon metabolites, and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) in pup hypothalamuses were assessed. RESULTS Adult offspring from LCHF and RCHF, but not HCHF, gestational diets had 10% higher food intake and weight gain than controls (P < 0.01). HCHF newborn pups had lower plasma insulin and leptin compared with LCHF and RCHF pups (P < 0.05), respectively. Pup brain choline (P < 0.05) and betaine (P < 0.01) were 22-33% higher in HCHF pups compared with LCHF pups; methionine was ∼23% lower after all high FA diets compared with RCRF (P < 0.01). LCHF adult offspring had lower brain choline (P < 0.05) than all groups and lower plasma 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (P < 0.05) than RCRF and RCHF groups. HCHF adult offspring had lower plasma cystathionine (P < 0.05) than LCHF adult offspring and lower homocysteine (P < 0.01) than RCHF and RCRF adult offspring. RNA-seq identified 144 differentially expressed genes in the hypothalamus of HCHF newborns compared with controls. CONCLUSIONS Increased choline in gestational diets modified the programming effects of high FA on long-term food intake regulation, plasma energy-regulatory hormones, one-carbon metabolism, and hypothalamic gene expression in male Wistar rat offspring, emphasizing a need for more attention to the choline and FA balance in maternal diets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rola Hammoud
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Emanuela Pannia
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ruslan Kubant
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Brandi Wasek
- Institute of Metabolic Disease, Baylor Scott & White Health, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Teodoro Bottiglieri
- Institute of Metabolic Disease, Baylor Scott & White Health, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Olga V Malysheva
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Marie A Caudill
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
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16
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Harlan De Crescenzo A, Panoutsopoulos AA, Tat L, Schaaf Z, Racherla S, Henderson L, Leung KY, Greene NDE, Green R, Zarbalis KS. Deficient or Excess Folic Acid Supply During Pregnancy Alter Cortical Neurodevelopment in Mouse Offspring. Cereb Cortex 2021; 31:635-649. [PMID: 32995858 PMCID: PMC7727343 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhaa248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Revised: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Folate is an essential micronutrient required for both cellular proliferation through de novo nucleotide synthesis and epigenetic regulation of gene expression through methylation. This dual requirement places a particular demand on folate availability during pregnancy when both rapid cell generation and programmed differentiation of maternal, extraembryonic, and embryonic/fetal tissues are required. Accordingly, prenatal neurodevelopment is particularly susceptible to folate deficiency, which can predispose to neural tube defects, or when effective transport into the brain is impaired, cerebral folate deficiency. Consequently, adequate folate consumption, in the form of folic acid (FA) fortification and supplement use, is widely recommended and has led to a substantial increase in the amount of FA intake during pregnancy in some populations. Here, we show that either maternal folate deficiency or FA excess in mice results in disruptions in folate metabolism of the offspring, suggesting diversion of the folate cycle from methylation to DNA synthesis. Paradoxically, either intervention causes comparable neurodevelopmental changes by delaying prenatal cerebral cortical neurogenesis in favor of late-born neurons. These cytoarchitectural and biochemical alterations are accompanied by behavioral abnormalities in FA test groups compared with controls. Our findings point to overlooked potential neurodevelopmental risks associated with excessively high levels of prenatal FA intake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelo Harlan De Crescenzo
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95817, USA
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Shriners Hospitals for Children, Northern California, 2425 Stockton Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Alexios A Panoutsopoulos
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95817, USA
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Shriners Hospitals for Children, Northern California, 2425 Stockton Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Lyvin Tat
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95817, USA
| | - Zachary Schaaf
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95817, USA
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Shriners Hospitals for Children, Northern California, 2425 Stockton Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Shailaja Racherla
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95817, USA
| | - Lyle Henderson
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Shriners Hospitals for Children, Northern California, 2425 Stockton Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Kit-Yi Leung
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Nicholas D E Greene
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Ralph Green
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95817, USA
| | - Konstantinos S Zarbalis
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95817, USA
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Shriners Hospitals for Children, Northern California, 2425 Stockton Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
- MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, CA 95817, USA
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17
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Raghavan R, Selhub J, Paul L, Ji Y, Wang G, Hong X, Zuckerman B, Fallin MD, Wang X. A prospective birth cohort study on cord blood folate subtypes and risk of autism spectrum disorder. Am J Clin Nutr 2020; 112:1304-1317. [PMID: 32844208 PMCID: PMC7657337 DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/nqaa208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We previously reported that extremely high concentrations of maternal plasma folate were associated with increased risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children. This study explored whether specific types of folate in cord blood have differential association with ASD. OBJECTIVES In the Boston Birth Cohort (BBC), we assessed the association between cord blood unmetabolized folic acid (UMFA), 5-methyl tetrahydrofolate (THF), and total folate and a child's ASD risk. In a subset, we explored whether the association between UMFA and ASD risk can be affected by the dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) genotype and cord plasma creatinine. We also examined prenatal correlates of cord UMFA concentrations. METHODS This report included 567 BBC children (92 ASD, 475 neurotypical), who were recruited at birth and prospectively followed at the Boston Medical Center. ASD was defined from International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-9 and ICD-10 codes documented in electronic medical records. RESULTS Children with cord UMFA in the highest, versus lowest quartile, had a greater ASD risk (adjusted OR, aORquartile4: 2.26; 95% CI: 1.08, 4.75). When stratified by race/ethnicity, the association was limited to 311 (45 ASD) Black children (aORquartile4: 9.85; 95% CI: 2.53, 38.31); a test of interaction between race/ethnicity and cord UMFA concentrations was significant (P = 0.007). The UMFA-ASD association in Black children slightly attenuated after adjusting for cord plasma creatinine (P = 0.05). There was no significant association between cord 5-methyl THF, total folate, DHFR genotype, and ASD risk. Cord total folate and maternal supplement intake during second trimester were associated with higher cord UMFA. CONCLUSIONS Higher concentrations of cord UMFA, but not 5-methyl THF or total folate, were associated with a greater risk of ASD in Black children. This study in a preterm-birth-enriched cohort raises more questions than it could answer and underscores the need for additional investigations on the sources and role of cord UMFA in children's neurodevelopmental outcomes and underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramkripa Raghavan
- Center on Early Life Origins of Disease, Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jacob Selhub
- Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center for Aging at Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ligi Paul
- Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center for Aging at Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yuelong Ji
- Center on Early Life Origins of Disease, Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Guoying Wang
- Center on Early Life Origins of Disease, Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Xiumei Hong
- Center on Early Life Origins of Disease, Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Barry Zuckerman
- Department of Pediatrics, Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - M Daniele Fallin
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
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18
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Interplay between Metabolism, Nutrition and Epigenetics in Shaping Brain DNA Methylation, Neural Function and Behavior. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11070742. [PMID: 32635190 PMCID: PMC7397264 DOI: 10.3390/genes11070742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2020] [Revised: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene expression in the brain is dramatically regulated by a variety of stimuli. While the role of neural activity has been extensively studied, less is known about the effects of metabolism and nutrition on transcriptional control mechanisms in the brain. Extracellular signals are integrated at the chromatin level through dynamic modifications of epigenetic marks, which in turn fine-tune gene transcription. In the last twenty years, it has become clear that epigenetics plays a crucial role in modulating central nervous system functions and finally behavior. Here, we will focus on the effect of metabolic signals in shaping brain DNA methylation, both during development and adulthood. We will provide an overview of maternal nutrition effects on brain methylation and behavior in offspring. In addition, the impact of different diet challenges on cytosine methylation dynamics in the adult brain will be discussed. Finally, the possible role played by the metabolic status in modulating DNA hydroxymethylation, which is particularly abundant in neural tissue, will be considered.
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19
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Rahimi S, Martel J, Karahan G, Angle C, Behan NA, Chan D, MacFarlane AJ, Trasler JM. Moderate maternal folic acid supplementation ameliorates adverse embryonic and epigenetic outcomes associated with assisted reproduction in a mouse model. Hum Reprod 2020; 34:851-862. [PMID: 30989206 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dez036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2018] [Revised: 01/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Could clinically-relevant moderate and/or high dose maternal folic acid supplementation prevent aberrant developmental and epigenetic outcomes associated with assisted reproductive technologies (ART)? SUMMARY ANSWER Our results demonstrate dose-dependent and sex-specific effects of folic acid supplementation in ART and provide evidence that moderate dose supplements may be optimal for both sexes. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Children conceived using ART are at an increased risk for growth and genomic imprinting disorders, often associated with DNA methylation defects. Folic acid supplementation is recommended during pregnancy to prevent adverse offspring outcomes; however, the effects of folic acid supplementation in ART remain unclear. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION Outbred female mice were fed three folic acid-supplemented diets, control (rodent daily recommended intake or DRI; CD), moderate (4-fold DRI; 4FASD) or high (10-fold DRI; 10FASD) dose, for six weeks prior to ART and throughout gestation. Mouse ART involved a combination of superovulation, in vitro fertilisation, embryo culture and embryo transfer. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Midgestation embryos and placentas (n = 74-99/group) were collected; embryos were assessed for developmental delay and gross morphological abnormalities and embryos and placentas were examined for epigenetic defects. We assessed methylation at four imprinted genes (Snrpn, Kcnq1ot1, Peg1 and H19) in matched midgestation embryos and placentas (n = 31-32/group) using bisulfite pyrosequencing. In addition, we examined genome-wide DNA methylation patterns in placentas (n = 6 normal placentas per sex/group) and embryos (n = 6 normal female embryos/group; n = 3 delayed female embryos/group) using reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS). MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Moderate, but not high dose supplementation, was associated with a decrease in the proportion of developmentally delayed embryos. Although moderate dose folic acid supplementation reduced DNA methylation variance at certain imprinted genes in embryonic and placental tissues, high dose supplementation exacerbated the negative effects of ART at imprinted loci. Furthermore, folic acid supplements resolved female-biased aberrant imprinted gene methylation. Supplementation was more effective at correcting ART-induced genome-wide methylation defects in male versus female placentas; however, folic acid supplementation also led to additional methylation perturbations which were more pronounced in males. LARGE-SCALE DATA The RRBS data from this study have been submitted to the NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus under the accession number GSE123143. LIMITATIONS REASONS FOR CAUTION Although the combination of mouse ART utilised in this study consisted of techniques commonly used in human fertility clinics, there may be species differences. Therefore, human studies, designed to determine the optimal levels of folic acid supplementation for ART pregnancies, and taking into account foetal sex, are warranted. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Taken together, our findings support moderation in the dose of folic acid supplements taken during ART. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This work was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (FDN-148425). The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia Rahimi
- Child Health and Human Development Program (CHHD), Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, 1001 Décarie Boulevard, Montréal QC, Canada.,Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, 3640 rue University, Montréal QC, Canada
| | - Josée Martel
- Child Health and Human Development Program (CHHD), Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, 1001 Décarie Boulevard, Montréal QC, Canada
| | - Gurbet Karahan
- Child Health and Human Development Program (CHHD), Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, 1001 Décarie Boulevard, Montréal QC, Canada.,Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, 3640 rue University, Montréal QC, Canada
| | - Camille Angle
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, 3655 Promenade Sir William Osler, Montréal QC, Canada
| | - Nathalie A Behan
- Nutrition Research Division, Health Canada, 251 Sir Frederick Banting Driveway, Ottawa ON, Canada
| | - Donovan Chan
- Child Health and Human Development Program (CHHD), Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, 1001 Décarie Boulevard, Montréal QC, Canada
| | - Amanda J MacFarlane
- Nutrition Research Division, Health Canada, 251 Sir Frederick Banting Driveway, Ottawa ON, Canada
| | - Jacquetta M Trasler
- Child Health and Human Development Program (CHHD), Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, 1001 Décarie Boulevard, Montréal QC, Canada.,Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, 3640 rue University, Montréal QC, Canada.,Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, 3655 Promenade Sir William Osler, Montréal QC, Canada.,Department of Pediatrics, McGill University, 1001 Décarie Boulevard, Montréal QC, Canada
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20
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Cosín-Tomás M, Luan Y, Leclerc D, Malysheva OV, Lauzon N, Bahous RH, Christensen KE, Caudill MA, Rozen R. Moderate Folic Acid Supplementation in Pregnant Mice Results in Behavioral Alterations in Offspring with Sex-Specific Changes in Methyl Metabolism. Nutrients 2020; 12:nu12061716. [PMID: 32521649 PMCID: PMC7352339 DOI: 10.3390/nu12061716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Revised: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Fifteen to 20% of pregnant women may exceed the recommended intake of folic acid (FA) by more than four-fold. This excess could compromise neurocognitive and motor development in offspring. Here, we explored the impact of an FA-supplemented diet (5× FASD, containing five-fold higher FA than recommended) during pregnancy on brain function in murine offspring, and elucidated mechanistic changes. We placed female C57BL/6 mice for one month on control diets or 5× FASD before mating. Diets were maintained throughout pregnancy and lactation. Behavioural tests were conducted on 3-week-old pups. Pups and mothers were sacrificed at weaning. Brains and livers were collected to examine choline/methyl metabolites and immunoreactive methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR). 5× FASD led to hyperactivity-like behavior and memory impairment in 3-week-old pups of both sexes. Reduced MTHFR protein in the livers of FASD mothers and male pups resulted in choline/methyl metabolite disruptions in offspring liver (decreased betaine) and brain (decreased glycerophosphocholine and sphingomyelin in male pups, and decreased phosphatidylcholine in both sexes). These results indicate that moderate folate supplementation downregulates MTHFR and alters choline/methyl metabolism, contributing to neurobehavioral alterations. Our findings support the negative impact of high FA on brain development, and may lead to improved guidelines on optimal folate levels during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Cosín-Tomás
- Departments of Human Genetics and Pediatrics, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada; (M.C.-T.); (Y.L.); (D.L.); (R.H.B.); (K.E.C.)
| | - Yan Luan
- Departments of Human Genetics and Pediatrics, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada; (M.C.-T.); (Y.L.); (D.L.); (R.H.B.); (K.E.C.)
| | - Daniel Leclerc
- Departments of Human Genetics and Pediatrics, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada; (M.C.-T.); (Y.L.); (D.L.); (R.H.B.); (K.E.C.)
| | - Olga V. Malysheva
- Division of Nutritional Sciences and Genomics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA; (O.V.M.); (M.A.C.)
| | - Nidia Lauzon
- Drug Discovery Platform, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada;
| | - Renata H. Bahous
- Departments of Human Genetics and Pediatrics, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada; (M.C.-T.); (Y.L.); (D.L.); (R.H.B.); (K.E.C.)
| | - Karen E. Christensen
- Departments of Human Genetics and Pediatrics, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada; (M.C.-T.); (Y.L.); (D.L.); (R.H.B.); (K.E.C.)
| | - Marie A. Caudill
- Division of Nutritional Sciences and Genomics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA; (O.V.M.); (M.A.C.)
| | - Rima Rozen
- Departments of Human Genetics and Pediatrics, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada; (M.C.-T.); (Y.L.); (D.L.); (R.H.B.); (K.E.C.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +15-14934-1934 (ext. 23839)
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21
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Lin AL, Parikh I, Yanckello LM, White RS, Hartz AMS, Taylor CE, McCulloch SD, Thalman SW, Xia M, McCarty K, Ubele M, Head E, Hyder F, Sanganahalli BG. APOE genotype-dependent pharmacogenetic responses to rapamycin for preventing Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiol Dis 2020; 139:104834. [PMID: 32173556 PMCID: PMC7486698 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2020.104834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2019] [Revised: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The ε4 allele of Apolipoprotein (APOE4) is the strongest genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common form of dementia. Cognitively normal APOE4 carriers have developed amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques and cerebrovascular, metabolic and structural deficits decades before showing the cognitive impairment. Interventions that can inhibit Aβ retention and restore the brain functions to normal would be critical to prevent AD for the asymptomatic APOE4 carriers. A major goal of the study was to identify the potential usefulness of rapamycin (Rapa), a pharmacological intervention for extending longevity, for preventing AD in the mice that express human APOE4 gene and overexpress Aβ (the E4FAD mice). Another goal of the study was to identify the potential pharmacogenetic differences in response to rapamycin between the E4FAD and E3FAD mice, the mice with human APOE ε3 allele. We used multi-modal MRI to measure in vivo cerebral blood flow (CBF), neurotransmitter levels, white matter integrity, water content, cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) and somatosensory response; used behavioral assessments to determine cognitive function; used biochemistry assays to determine Aβ retention and blood-brain barrier (BBB) functions; and used metabolomics to identify brain metabolic changes. We found that in the E4FAD mice, rapamycin normalized bodyweight, restored CBF (especially in female), BBB activity for Aβ transport, neurotransmitter levels, neuronal integrity and free fatty acid level, and reduced Aβ retention, which were not observe in the E3FAD-Rapa mice. In contrast, E3FAD-Rapa mice had lower CVR responses, lower anxiety and reduced glycolysis in the brain, which were not seen in the E4FAD-Rapa mice. Further, rapamycin appeared to normalize lipid-associated metabolism in the E4FAD mice, while slowed overall glucose-associated metabolism in the E3FAD mice. Finally, rapamycin enhanced overall water content, water diffusion in white matter, and spatial memory in both E3FAD and E4FAD mice, but did not impact the somatosensory responses under hindpaw stimulation. Our findings indicated that rapamycin was able to restore brain functions and reduce AD risk for young, asymptomatic E4FAD mice, and there were pharmacogenetic differences between the E3FAD and E4FAD mice. As the multi-modal MRI methods used in the study are readily to be used in humans and rapamycin is FDA-approved, our results may pave a way for future clinical testing of the pharmacogenetic responses in humans with different APOE alleles, and potentially using rapamycin to prevent AD for asymptomatic APOE4 carriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ai-Ling Lin
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States of America; Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States of America; Department of Neuroscience, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States of America; F. Joseph Halcomb III, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States of America.
| | - Ishita Parikh
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States of America; Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, United States of America
| | - Lucille M Yanckello
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States of America; Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States of America
| | - Renee S White
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States of America; Georgetown College, Georgetown, KY, United States of America
| | - Anika M S Hartz
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States of America; Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States of America
| | - Chase E Taylor
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States of America
| | | | - Scott W Thalman
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States of America; F. Joseph Halcomb III, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States of America
| | - Mengfan Xia
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States of America
| | - Katie McCarty
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States of America
| | - Margo Ubele
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth Head
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA, United States of America; University of California Irvine Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, Irvine, CA, United States of America
| | - Fahmeed Hyder
- Magnetic Resonance Research Center, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States of America; Quantitative Neuroscience with Magnetic Resonance Core Center, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States of America; Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States of America; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Basavaraju G Sanganahalli
- Magnetic Resonance Research Center, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States of America; Quantitative Neuroscience with Magnetic Resonance Core Center, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States of America; Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States of America; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States of America
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22
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S-Adenosine Methionine (SAMe) and Valproic Acid (VPA) as Epigenetic Modulators: Special Emphasis on their Interactions Affecting Nervous Tissue during Pregnancy. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21103721. [PMID: 32466248 PMCID: PMC7279375 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21103721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Revised: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) is involved in many transmethylation reactions in most living organisms and is also required in the synthesis of several substances such as monoamine neurotransmitters and the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. Due to its important role as an epigenetic modulator, we discuss in some length the process of DNA methylation and demethylation and the critical periods of epigenetic modifications in the embryo, fetus, and thereafter. We also discuss the effects of SAMe deficiency and the attempts to use SAMe for therapeutic purposes such as the treatment of major depressive disorder, Alzheimer disease, and other neuropsychiatric disorders. SAMe is an approved food additive and as such is also used during pregnancy. Yet, there seems to scanty data on the possible effects of SAMe on the developing embryo and fetus. Valproic acid (VPA) is a well-tolerated and effective antiepileptic drug that is also used as a mood stabilizer. Due to its high teratogenicity, it is contraindicated in pregnancy. A major mechanism of its action is histone deacetylase inhibition, and therefore, it acts as an epigenetic modulator, mainly on the brain. This prompted clinical trials using VPA for additional indications i.e., treating degenerative brain disease such as Alzheimer disease, dementia, HIV, and even cancer. Therefore, we discuss the possible effects of VPA and SAMe on the conceptus and early postnatally, during periods of susceptibility to epigenetic modifications. VPA is also used as an inducer of autistic-like behavior in rodents and was found by us to modify gene expression when administered during the first postnatal week but not when administered to the pregnant dams on day 12 of gestation. In contrast, SAMe modified gene expression when administered on day 12 of pregnancy but not postnatally. If administered together, VPA prevented the changes in gene expression induced by prenatal SAMe administration, and SAMe prevented the gene expression changes and autistic-like behavior induced by early postnatal VPA. It is concluded that both VPA and SAMe are powerful epigenetic modifiers with antagonistic actions on the brain that will probably be used in the future more extensively for the treatment of a variety of epigenetic diseases of the nervous system.
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Prenatal S-Adenosine Methionine (SAMe) Induces Changes in Gene Expression in the Brain of Newborn Mice That Are Prevented by Co-Administration of Valproic Acid (VPA). Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21082834. [PMID: 32325788 PMCID: PMC7215397 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21082834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Revised: 04/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In previous studies, we produced changes in gene expression in the brain of mice by early postnatal administration of valproic acid (VPA), with distinct differences between genders. The addition of S-adenosine methionine (SAMe) normalized the expression of most genes in both genders, while SAMe alone induced no changes. We treated pregnant dams with a single injection of VPA on day 12.5 of gestation, or with SAMe during gestational days 12–14, or by a combination of VPA and SAMe. In the frontal half of the brain, we studied the expression of 770 genes of the pathways involved in neurophysiology and neuropathology using the NanoString nCounter method. SAMe, but not VPA, induced statistically significant changes in the expression of many genes, with differences between genders. The expression of 112 genes was changed in both sexes, and another 170 genes were changed only in females and 31 only in males. About 30% of the genes were changed by more than 50%. One of the most important pathways changed by SAMe in both sexes was the VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) pathway. Pretreatment with VPA prevented almost all the changes in gene expression induced by SAMe. We conclude that large doses of SAMe, if administered prenatally, may induce significant epigenetic changes in the offspring. Hence, SAMe and possibly other methyl donors may be epigenetic teratogens.
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24
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Bekdash RA. Neuroprotective Effects of Choline and Other Methyl Donors. Nutrients 2019; 11:nu11122995. [PMID: 31817768 PMCID: PMC6950346 DOI: 10.3390/nu11122995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Revised: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 12/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent evidence suggests that physical and mental health are influenced by an intricate interaction between genes and environment. Environmental factors have been shown to modulate neuronal gene expression and function by epigenetic mechanisms. Exposure to these factors including nutrients during sensitive periods of life could program brain development and have long-lasting effects on mental health. Studies have shown that early nutritional intervention that includes methyl-donors improves cognitive functions throughout life. Choline is a micronutrient and a methyl donor that is required for normal brain growth and development. It plays a pivotal role in maintaining structural and functional integrity of cellular membranes. It also regulates cholinergic signaling in the brain via the synthesis of acetylcholine. Via its metabolites, it participates in pathways that regulate methylation of genes related to memory and cognitive functions at different stages of development. Choline-related functions have been dysregulated in some neurodegenerative diseases suggesting choline role in influencing mental health across the lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rola A Bekdash
- Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ 07102, USA
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25
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McKee SE, Reyes TM. Effect of supplementation with methyl-donor nutrients on neurodevelopment and cognition: considerations for future research. Nutr Rev 2019; 76:497-511. [PMID: 29701796 DOI: 10.1093/nutrit/nuy007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Pregnancy represents a critical period in fetal development, such that the prenatal environment can, in part, establish a lifelong trajectory of health or disease for the offspring. Poor nutrition (macro- or micronutrient deficiencies) can adversely affect brain development and significantly increase offspring risk for metabolic and neurological disease development. The concentration of dietary methyl-donor nutrients is known to alter DNA methylation in the brain, and alterations in DNA methylation can have long-lasting effects on gene expression and neuronal function. The decreased availability of methyl-donor nutrients to the developing fetus in models of poor maternal nutrition is one mechanism hypothesized to link maternal malnutrition and disease risk in offspring. Animal studies indicate that supplementation of both maternal and postnatal (early- and later-life) diets with methyl-donor nutrients can attenuate disease risk in offspring; however, clinical research is more equivocal. The objective of this review is to summarize how specific methyl-donor nutrient deficiencies and excesses during pre- and postnatal life alter neurodevelopment and cognition. Emphasis is placed on reviewing the current literature, highlighting challenges within nutrient supplementation research, and considering potential strategies to ensure robust findings in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E McKee
- Department of Pharmacology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Teresa M Reyes
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
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26
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Naninck EFG, Stijger PC, Brouwer-Brolsma EM. The Importance of Maternal Folate Status for Brain Development and Function of Offspring. Adv Nutr 2019; 10:502-519. [PMID: 31093652 PMCID: PMC6520042 DOI: 10.1093/advances/nmy120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2018] [Revised: 10/18/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The importance of an adequate periconceptional maternal folate status to prevent fetal neural tube defects has been well demonstrated and resulted in the recommendation for women to use folic acid supplements during the periconception period. The importance of maternal folate status for offspring neurodevelopment and brain health is less well described. We reviewed the current evidence linking maternal folate status before conception and during pregnancy with neurodevelopment and cognition of the offspring. We discuss both animal and human studies. Preclinical research revealed the importance of maternal folate status for several key processes required for normal neurodevelopment and brain functioning in the offspring, including DNA synthesis, regulation of gene expression, synthesis of phospholipids and neurotransmitters, and maintenance of healthy plasma homocysteine concentrations. Human observational studies are inconclusive; about half have shown a positive association between maternal folate status and cognitive performance of offspring. Whereas some studies suggest a positive association between maternal folate intake and cognition of offspring during childhood, data from interventional studies are too limited to conclude that there is a direct effect. Future preclinical studies are needed to help us characterize the behavioral effects, understand the underlying mechanisms, and to establish an optimal dosage and time window of folate supplementation. Moreover, more conclusive data from well-designed human observational studies and randomized controlled trials are needed to determine whether current recommendations for folic acid supplementation during pregnancy cover the needs for normal cognitive development in the offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva F G Naninck
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Center for Neuroscience, Brain plasticity group, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Pascalle C Stijger
- Division of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Elske M Brouwer-Brolsma
- Division of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands,Address correspondence to EMB-B (e-mail: )
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Chu D, Li L, Jiang Y, Tan J, Ji J, Zhang Y, Jin N, Liu F. Excess Folic Acid Supplementation Before and During Pregnancy and Lactation Activates Fos Gene Expression and Alters Behaviors in Male Mouse Offspring. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:313. [PMID: 31024236 PMCID: PMC6460239 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Periconceptional folic acid (FA) supplementation is recommended to prevent neural tube defects and other birth defects. After 20 years mandate food fortification with FA, serum concentration of folate and unmetabolized FA increased significantly in the North American population. But whether excess FA intake impairs neurodevelopment and behavior is still controversial. Here, we treated mice with approximately 2.5-fold (moderate dose of FA, MFA) or 10-fold (high dose of FA, HFA) the dietary requirement of FA 1 week before mating and throughout pregnancy and lactation, and examined behaviors in adult male offspring using open field test, three-chamber sociability and social novelty test, elevated plus maze, rotarod and Morris water maze. We found that early life MFA supplementation increased long-term body weight gain in adults, elevated anxiety-like behavior, and impaired social preference, motor learning and spatial learning ability without modifying motor ability and spatial memory. In contrast, HFA supplementation only induced mild behavioral abnormality. RNA sequencing revealed that FA supplementation altered the expression of brain genes at weaning, among which Fos and related genes were significantly up-regulated in MFA mice compared with control and HFA mice. Quantitative real time-PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blots confirmed the increase of these genes. Our results suggested that FA supplementation during early life stage affected gene expression in weaning mice, and exhibited long-term impairments in adult behaviors in a dose-sensitive manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Chu
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Longfei Li
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Yanli Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Jianxin Tan
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Jie Ji
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Yongli Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Nana Jin
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Fei Liu
- Department of Neurochemistry, Inge Grundke-Iqbal Research Floor, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, New York, NY, United States
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28
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Deniz BF, Confortim HD, Deckmann I, Miguel PM, Bronauth L, de Oliveira BC, Vieira MC, Dos Santos TM, Bertó CG, Hartwig J, Wyse ÂTDS, Pereira LO. Gestational folic acid supplementation does not affects the maternal behavior and the early development of rats submitted to neonatal hypoxia-ischemia but the high supplementation impairs the dam's memory and the Na +, K + - ATPase activity in the pup's hippocampus. Int J Dev Neurosci 2018; 71:181-192. [PMID: 30315904 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2018.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2018] [Revised: 09/26/2018] [Accepted: 10/05/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Folic acid (FA) is a B-complex vitamin important to the development of the fetus, being supplemented during pregnancy. Our recent findings showed that gestation supplementation (normal and excess doses) prevented the cognitive deficits and BDNF imbalance in adult rats that were submitted to neonatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI). To better understand this protective effect, the present study aimed to evaluate whether FA supplementation could be related to (1) maternal behavior, memory and Na+, K+ - ATPase activity in the hippocampus of the dams; (2) on somatic growth, early neurobehavioral development and Na+, K+ - ATPase activity in the hippocampus of the offspring; and (3) the effects of this supplementation in pups submitted to neonatal HI. Pregnant Wistar rats were divided into three groups, according to the diet they received during gestation: standard diet (SD), supplemented with 2 mg/kg of FA (FA2 - normal dose) and supplemented with 20 mg/kg of FA (FA20 -excessive dose). At the 7th PND pups were submitted to the Levine-Vannucci model of HI. During weaning the maternal behavior, the somatic growth and the neurobehavior development of pups were assessed. After weaning, the memory of the dams (by the Ox-maze task) and the Na+, K+ - ATPase activity in the hippocampus of both dams and offspring were evaluated. Considering the dams (1), both doses of FA did not alter the maternal behavior or the Na+, K+ - ATPase activity in the hippocampus, but a memory deficit was observed in the high FA-supplemented mothers. Considering the offspring (2), both FA doses did not affect the somatic growth or the neurobehavior development, but the FA20 pups had a decreased Na+, K+ - ATPase activity in the hippocampus. The FA supplementation did not change the parameters evaluated in the HI rats (3) and did not prevent the decreased Na+, K+ - ATPase activity in the hippocampus of the HI pups. These results indicate that normal FA supplementation dose does not influence the maternal behavior and memory and does not impact on the offspring early development in rats. Further studies are needed to confirm the effects of the high FA supplementation dose in the dams' memory and in the Na+, K+ - ATPase activity in the hippocampus of the offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruna Ferrary Deniz
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Sarmento Leite, 500, sala 107, 90050- 170, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Departamento de Ciências Morfológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Sarmento Leite, 500, 90050- 170, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Heloísa Deola Confortim
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Sarmento Leite, 500, sala 107, 90050- 170, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Departamento de Ciências Morfológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Sarmento Leite, 500, 90050- 170, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Iohanna Deckmann
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600, Prédio Anexo, 90035-003, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600, Prédio Anexo, 90035-003, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Maidana Miguel
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Sarmento Leite, 500, sala 107, 90050- 170, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Departamento de Ciências Morfológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Sarmento Leite, 500, 90050- 170, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Loise Bronauth
- Departamento de Ciências Morfológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Sarmento Leite, 500, 90050- 170, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Bruna Chaves de Oliveira
- Departamento de Ciências Morfológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Sarmento Leite, 500, 90050- 170, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Milene Cardoso Vieira
- Departamento de Ciências Morfológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Sarmento Leite, 500, 90050- 170, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Tiago Marcon Dos Santos
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600, Prédio Anexo, 90035-003, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600, Prédio Anexo, 90035-003, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Carolina Gessinger Bertó
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600, Prédio Anexo, 90035-003, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600, Prédio Anexo, 90035-003, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Josiane Hartwig
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600, Prédio Anexo, 90035-003, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600, Prédio Anexo, 90035-003, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Ângela Terezinha de Souza Wyse
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600, Prédio Anexo, 90035-003, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600, Prédio Anexo, 90035-003, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Lenir Orlandi Pereira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Sarmento Leite, 500, sala 107, 90050- 170, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Departamento de Ciências Morfológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Sarmento Leite, 500, 90050- 170, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
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Early Manifestations of Brain Aging in Mice Due to Low Dietary Folate and Mild MTHFR Deficiency. Mol Neurobiol 2018; 56:4175-4191. [PMID: 30288696 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-018-1375-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2018] [Accepted: 09/27/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Folate is an important B vitamin required for methylation reactions, nucleotide and neurotransmitter synthesis, and maintenance of homocysteine at nontoxic levels. Its metabolism is tightly linked to that of choline, a precursor to acetylcholine and membrane phospholipids. Low folate intake and genetic variants in folate metabolism, such as the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) 677 C>T polymorphism, have been suggested to impact brain function and increase the risk for cognitive decline and late-onset Alzheimer's disease. Our study aimed to assess the impact of genetic and nutritional disturbances in folate metabolism, and their potential interaction, on features of cognitive decline and brain biochemistry in a mouse model. Wild-type and Mthfr+/- mice, a model for the MTHFR 677 C>T polymorphism, were fed control or folate-deficient diets from weaning until 8 and 10 months of age. We observed short-term memory impairment measured by the novel object paradigm, altered transcriptional levels of synaptic markers and epigenetic enzymes, as well as impaired choline metabolism due to the Mthfr+/- genotype in cortex or hippocampus. We also detected changes in mRNA levels of Presenillin-1, neurotrophic factors, one-carbon metabolic and epigenetic enzymes, as well as reduced levels of S-adenosylmethionine and acetylcholine, due to the folate-deficient diet. These findings shed further insights into the mechanisms by which genetic and dietary folate metabolic disturbances increase the risk for cognitive decline and suggest that these mechanisms are distinct.
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Prenatal one-carbon metabolism dysregulation programs schizophrenia-like deficits. Mol Psychiatry 2018; 23:282-294. [PMID: 28809400 PMCID: PMC6432924 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2017.164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2017] [Revised: 06/20/2017] [Accepted: 06/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The methionine-folate cycle-dependent one-carbon metabolism is implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Since schizophrenia is a developmental disorder, we examined the effects that perturbation of the one-carbon metabolism during gestation has on mice progeny. Pregnant mice were administered methionine equivalent to double their daily intake during the last week of gestation. Their progeny (MET mice) exhibited schizophrenia-like social deficits, cognitive impairments and elevated stereotypy, decreased neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity, and abnormally reduced local excitatory synaptic connections in CA1 neurons. Neural transcript expression of only one gene, encoding the Npas4 transcription factor, was >twofold altered (downregulated) in MET mice; strikingly, similar Npas4 downregulation occurred in the prefrontal cortex of human patients with schizophrenia. Finally, therapeutic actions of typical (haloperidol) and atypical (clozapine) antipsychotics in MET mice mimicked effects in human schizophrenia patients. Our data support the validity of MET mice as a model for schizophrenia, and uncover methionine metabolism as a potential preventive and/or therapeutic target.
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Helm S, Blayney M, Whited T, Noroozi M, Lin S, Kern S, Green D, Salehi A. Deleterious Effects of Chronic Folate Deficiency in the Ts65Dn Mouse Model of Down Syndrome. Front Cell Neurosci 2017. [PMID: 28649192 PMCID: PMC5465284 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2017.00161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Folate is an important B vitamin naturally found in the human diet and plays a critical role in methylation of nucleic acids. Indeed, abnormalities in this major epigenetic mechanism play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of cognitive deficit and intellectual disability in humans. The most common cause of cognitive dysfunction in children is Down syndrome (DS). Since folate deficiency is very common among the pediatric population, we questioned whether chronic folate deficiency (CFD) exacerbates cognitive dysfunction in a mouse model of DS. To test this, adult Ts65Dn mice and their disomic littermates were chronically fed a diet free of folic acid while preventing endogenous production of folate in the digestive tract for a period of 8 weeks. Our results show that the Ts65Dn mouse model of DS was significantly more vulnerable to CFD in terms of plasma homocysteine and N5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF) levels. Importantly, these changes were linked to degenerative alterations in hippocampal dendritic morphology and impaired nest building behavior in Ts65Dn mice. Based on our results, a rigorous examination of folate intake and its metabolism in individuals with DS is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Helm
- Natural Science Division, Pepperdine UniversityMalibu, CA, United States
| | - Morgan Blayney
- Natural Science Division, Pepperdine UniversityMalibu, CA, United States
| | - Taylor Whited
- Natural Science Division, Pepperdine UniversityMalibu, CA, United States
| | - Mahjabin Noroozi
- VA Palo Alto Health Care System (VAPAHCS)Palo Alto, CA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of MedicinePalo Alto, CA, United States
| | - Sen Lin
- Natural Science Division, Pepperdine UniversityMalibu, CA, United States
| | - Semira Kern
- Natural Science Division, Pepperdine UniversityMalibu, CA, United States
| | - David Green
- Natural Science Division, Pepperdine UniversityMalibu, CA, United States
| | - Ahmad Salehi
- VA Palo Alto Health Care System (VAPAHCS)Palo Alto, CA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of MedicinePalo Alto, CA, United States
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